hi i didn't proofread
//
Asking Camila out seemed like a really good idea up until you realized you had absolutely no idea where to take her for said date. It dawns on you that you're not sure how to date.
The last serious romantic anything you had was in high school since college hasn't been much more than gay flings and exam stress. So you seek advice and it doesn't take long to prove that Vero probably wasn't the best choice.
To reiterate: Vero Iglesias is an awful friend.
The thought process was that she's in a loving and committed relationship, maybe she would have cute ideas for a date. Turns out she's just a little shit.
"You're sure this is a date right?" She starts off as she makes herself comfortable on your bed. "Like you're not just going to hang out with her as her cool and hot college friend?"
"Fuck you, Vero. She explicitly said she wanted to go on a date with me. Just fucking help me figure something out, I don't want to do something basic for her," you retort as you lay on the floor.
"Alright well the vein in your forehead is popping out so maybe take a breath." There are a few moments where she seems contemplative before speaking again.
"Hm, maybe you could...Oh! You could go to the batting cages, show off your swing! Oh fuck, do you think that'll be a little triggering for her?"
Vero makes a show of concentrating and you disrupt her act by throwing a pillow at her head.
"Ow! I guess your swing isn't what she needs to worry about..." she whines.
"Oh did that hurt?" you feign concern.
"Yes."
"Good! I invited you over to help not to patronize me. Why do I even tell you anything?"
"Well telling Lucy would be a little uncouth. A little salt in the wound type of thing."
Sitting up, you look at her with slight desperation. "She said she was okay with this!"
"And she is," Vero reassures you. "But you know, courtesy and all that to not flaunt your date in front of her. It was just a shallow crush for her, you're like...all sappy and in your feelings."
"I'm not in my feelings! I just, y'know, care about impressing her." You will the niggling guilt of the Lucy situation to the back of your mind because she promised it was okay.
Vero leans over the edge of the bed to give you a look full of doubt and impatience. You give her the middle finger before speaking again.
"Are you going to be any help or not? I'd like to be able to take her out while she's still in one piece," you grumble while Vero laughs at your pain.
"Well what were your first thoughts?"
"I don't know, maybe dinner?"
"You two always have dinner together. But think about what's gonna make this dinner a date?"
"We'll dress nice?" You suggest feebly but you're met with a pointed look.
"Her ankle is still swollen so maybe think a little more casual. Why don't you cook for her? I hear that's romantic and relatively safe."
"Josephina does all the cooking for you though," you're quick to point out.
"And I find it very romantic!" she huffs in response. "You gonna be like this with the rest of my ideas?"
"I'm sorry! I just want it to be good and not traumatic for one of us. I've already almost assaulted her and then sprained her ankle. I don't want anything to go wrong and I don't even have anything planned for tomorrow. Oh my god Vero it's tomorrow and I have nothing planned!" You jolt upright from your spot on the floor as panic floods your voice.
"I would bet you my left kidney that she will literally be fine with whatever date you decide so long as you end up making out or something," Vero attempts to placate you despite rolling her eyes at you.
"Can you take this seriously for a minute?" You stress your words as your nerves creep out of you.
"No because if we're being honest, it doesn't have to be that big of a deal. Camila isn't a flashy person, she likes cute domestic shit. Probably just wants to be taken out to a picnic and then nap in the sun or something."
"That...actually sounds kind of cute, Vero."
"I can be cute and romantic!" she protests. "How do you think I wooed my own girl?"
"You showed her your ass?" There's only a little sarcasm to your voice.
"Fuck you. I showed her my boobs too."
You let yourself laugh and a little tension leaves your body as the simple suggestion holds more and more appeal.
"I think a picnic would be cute," you finally agree.
"Yeah! Do it somewhere cute, like the beach."
"It's Miami, there's too many tourists and Camila hates crowds." You consider where else would be cute to have a picnic but all the parks that come mind are definitely not places you want to bring Camila to for a date. They're too public and too crowded and-
"You really are so clueless, Laur."
"What? What'd I do?"
"You're not even trying. Obviously you'd go to a less crowded beach. Like uhh, oh! Juno Beach isn't that far and it's pretty quiet up there."
"Isn't that far? That's like an hour and a half away," you refute.
"Oh noooooo, you have to spend more time with Camila," her voice drips with sarcasm while her face holds a mocking look of despair. "I'm so sorry you would have to spend like a whole day with the girl you wanna bone. As if you're not already spending all of your free time with her and penciling me in for advice about how to spend more time with her!" Vero throws her hands up in annoyance and you look at her with sudden guilt.
"Are you really mad about-"
"Lauren I'm just kidding," she's quick to assure you. "It's nice that you're all smitten with her and it's not like I actually want to hang out with you."
"Shut the fuck up, you love me."
"Not as much as you love me," Vero counters and you give her a soft smile. She scowls in return.
"Don't get sappy or I'm leaving."
You take that as invitation to get up from the floor and lay across Vero as she pretends to protest the affection. You surmise that she's a pretty okay friend.
"You never denied that you wanna bone her."
"Shut up, Vero."
//
[Camz]: so
[Camz]: you wanna tell me what we're doing for our DATE?? :)
[Lolo]: no but i can tell you what surprise means
[Lolo]: it means i don't tell you what we're doing for our date
[Camz]: i think it means that ure not nice :(
[Lolo]: dont pout babe
[Camz]: wow !!!
[Camz]: my heart !!!!!
[Camz]: i'm babe now?
[Lolo]: is that ok?
[Lolo]: idk what i'm doing
[Camz]: no this is gr8!!!
[Camz]: cus now i can call you abby
[Camz]: baby****
[Lolo]: whos abby???
[Lolo]: :,(
[Camz]: shut up i was just excited
[Lolo]: sorry i cant be abby :/
[Camz]: no babe don't be like that! :(
[Camz]: abby means nothing to me i swear!!
There's no fighting the smile or the blush that take over face at Camila's words as you read them over again and again. You bite your lip, leaning back against your headboard and peering at the clock on your nightstand. It reads 10:47 PM and you already know you'll hardly get any sleep tonight. The anticipation bubbles inside you, leaving behind a mix of nerves and giddiness and just enough confidence to not second guess every single thing you say to Camila.
[Lolo]: maybe abby will just take u out tomorrow
[Camz]: abby isn't even as cute as you
[Lolo]: so u only like me for my looks??
[Camz]: yes
[Lolo]: i gotta go
[Camz]: i understand
[Camz]: but don't! cus i'm kidding
[Camz]: i like u for ur dog too
[Lolo]: B Y E
[Camz]: baby
[Camz]: babyyy
[Camz]: baby come back!
[Camz]: you can blame it all on meeee
[Lolo]: r u done?
[Lolo]: like is it over?
[Camz]: don't be mean :c
[Lolo]: you started this!
[Lolo]: but i'll give u a hint
[Camz]: a hint to what?
[Lolo]: the date dummy
[Camz]: yES TELL ME EVERYHTING
[Lolo]: we'll be out most of the day so dress comfortably and maybe bring a swimsuit
[Camz]: ure just trying to see me without clothes, aren't you?
[Lolo]: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
[Camz]: well you could've just said so
[Camz]: ;]
Your phone falls on your face and you're instantly cupping your face as the bridge of your nose throbs in pain. It takes a minute to subside and your phone to buzz with another text.
[Camz]: goodnight baby
[Camz]: can't wait to see you tomorrow ( ˘ ³˘)❤
The sigh you let out is long and drawn out, turning into a groan as you're sure this girl is trying to kill you.
//
As if being a tease over text wasn't enough, Camila likes to be a tease in person too.
When you appear at her door the next morning to pick her up, she's wearing the tiniest jean shorts and cropped t-shirt you've ever seen. Mouth now hanging open, your eyes wander over her body and all the exposed skin; tan and soft and oh so inviting.
And if it wasn't was obvious from the start- you are so inexplicably attracted to this girl you nearly lose all cognitive function.
"Wow," you utter. Camila just looks smug, knowing the exact effect she has on you.
"Thank you, baby."
Your eyes snap up to her face and you're so shocked to hear the endearment in person. Over text was one thing but Camila saying it so freely? Your heart rate is going to spike the whole day and you wonder how the paramedics will make sense of the sudden cardiac arrest you'll suffer by the end of the day.
"Are you- ahem, are you ready?" You wince at the way your voice cracks but thankfully Camila pretends not to notice.
"More than ready. I've been bouncing off the walls since waking up," she smiles and closing the door behind her. You can't help the small smile of your own at knowing that she's just as excited about this is as you, that she wants this as much as you do.
Camila's already a few steps ahead of you towards your car and if your eyes linger below her waist then she doesn't have to know.
"It's a bit of a drive to get where we're going so I hope you don't mind," you give her a heads up as you both settle into your seats.
"I guess I can endure your company for that long," she quips with a smirk.
"I can leave you here if that's what you prefer," you half threaten.
"I already hobbled my way out here, it's too late to turn back."
There's instant guilt at the mention of her little limping as you know her ankle is still bothering her.
"I'd have carried you out of something," you weakly offer. Camila laughs, putting her hand on your arm and making you look at her.
"Lo, I promise I'm fine. It's just fun to give you a hard time but I'm only ever joking. Okay?"
"Okay," you say quietly, avoiding her eyes as you feel a blush blooming on your cheeks.
And then Camila makes it worse. She leans over the middle console to kiss your cheek and your face is instantly on fire. You swallow hard and keep your eyes straight forward, but you don't need to look at her to know she's got a shit eating grin on her face.
"Okay I'm going to start driving now," you announce a little shakily.
"Mmkay baby."
She's really trying to kill you.
The ride eases your nerves a bit, Camila taking control of the aux cord and absolutely belting out every song that comes on and urges you to join in for half of them. She blares Carly Rae Jepsen, using her phone as a fake mic and you wish you didn't have to drive so you could properly enjoy the show. Her smile is so wide and her laugh so contagious, you think you could drive til the tank was empty watching just that.
It's only half an hour left in the drive and Camila seems to have tired herself out after performing the whole Emotion album, lowering the volume and leaning back in her seat.
"Whew, you'd think after a whole album, we'd be there by now."
"Just another thirty minutes," you assure her.
"Thirty minutes??? What are you doing, kidnapping me?"
"Is that what high schoolers call dates these days?"
"Oh yes, I forgot you're so old and so derived from this generation. I hadn't realized I was going on a date with a cougar," Camila counters with just as much sarcasm.
"I'm not a cougar and I'm not kidnapping you. I just wanted to go somewhere less crowded to take you."
"That doesn't sound any less like kidnapping me."
You huff in indignation and grumble out another "I'm not kidnapping you," which Camila only giggles at.
"You're cute when you're grumpy," she notes. You stick your tongue out at her, eliciting another giggle and your own smile comes easy.
A minute passes in comfortable silence between you two, the radio playing so softly in the background as she watches the scenery pass. Suddenly you feel her eyes on you, raking all over you and you want to squirm under the scrutiny. But then she's reaching her hand out to you, palm up and waiting.
"Uh," you glance down and then to her face, fixing her with a puzzled look.
"I wanna hold your hand dummy," Camila's tone is softer than her words and she looks at you with such tenderness you'd probably turn into a puddle right there.
Sliding your hand over hers, your fingers slot between hers and Camila doesn't hesitate to bring your joined hands into her lap. She resumes looking out the window and you bite back the smile threatening to take over your face.
When she starts stroking the back of your hand with her thumb, you know you're completely gone.
//
"You know we live by a beach, right?" Camila questions you park and the shoreline is in full view.
"Miami beaches are always too crowded," you shrug.
"You mean too many witnesses?"
"I am not kidnapping you," you say with exasperation and Camila seems to revel in your annoyance. But then a new brightness reaches her eyes when she sees the picnic basket in your hand.
"You made us a picnic? Lo that's so romantic," she gushes and you mentally pat yourself on the back even though Vero's voice in the back of your mind claims all the credit.
"Yes and I even borrowed my dad's hammock so we could nap afterwards. You're always sleepy after you eat."
"That's a normal thing! Everyone gets tired after eating."
"Whatever you say, Camz." You shoulder your bag and start walking towards the beach, looking back to check that she's following you.
"Here, I'll carry your bag and you can carry the basket," she offers but you're quick to decline.
"It's okay, I can carry both. They're not heavy."
"I know you can but that's not why I offered," she rolls her eyes and takes the bag from you anyways. In the same stride she takes your hand in hers once again and you look at her, hoping your eyes convey how completely taken you are with her.
You can feel your chest swell knowing that Camila's just as comfortable with you on a date as she is in any other setting. That begs the question of what the fuck is wrong with you then, you useless gay.
The question sounds a lot like Vero's voice and you hate how persistent she is in your conscience.
After a few minutes walking a little farther from the shore to find a more wooded area, you finally decide on a spot between a few trees. There's considerably less people here than any beach around Miami and it offers a huge relief. You're setting up the hammock while Camila lays down the blankets and basket for you two. The whole thing screams picturesque date to you but you're worried about every possible absurd way you could fuck this up.
"Lo...are you okay?"
"Huh? What? Yeah, of course," you ramble as you're pulled out of your thoughts.
"Are you sure? It looks like you're trying to tighten the hammock ties til it tears."
"I just...don't know my own strength?" You hope she accepts the excuse because you're probably just overthinking. What are the odds she leaves with another injury?
Probably pretty slim.
Right?
Luckily lunch goes without a hitch, Camila being overjoyed that you brought her favorite pizza in tupperware rather than cooking. You're both fairly aware of how not great you are at cooking. Then there's the platanos you got from your mom and Camila practically loses her mind.
"This is officially the best date I've ever been on," she sighs contentedly as stuffs her face.
"All it took was platanos?"
"Lauren. You took me to a beach that's like eight hours away-"
"An hour and a half," you correct.
"So that we aren't around too many crowds because you know I hate them, you got me my favorite pizza and brought a fucking hammock so we could nap together! On top of all that I'm with you so honestly, this is perfect."
You blink in surprise at her words, how readily they fall from her lips. She meets your gaze with the softest smile and her eyes show nothing but sincerity and you can feel yourself falling. The smile hasn't left your face once the whole day and you wonder why you couldn't get yourself to ask Camila out sooner.
Oh yeah. It's because you're a useless gay.
You thank every kind of deity that you and Camila manage to get in the hammock together without incident, however much awkward maneuvering it takes on your part. She's nestled against you, head tucked into the bend of your neck and it's a familiar position between the two of you. The hammock cocoons you two and you secretly marvel at how much contact there is between you two.
"This is going to be the best nap I've ever had," she sleepily mumbles.
"We literally just finished eating and you're already about to pass out," you note with amusement.
"We had a long drive! I sang that whole album for you! And when I wake up I'm going to wanna be in the sand and swim and stuff. But right now we nap so I have the energy for all that."
"You're like a puppy."
"That's why Dash is my best friend. He gets me." Camila yawns as she pokes your side with a patronizing tone before sliding her arm across your waist and hugging you close.
"I thought I was your best friend?" You ask with a playful pout.
"Oh Lauren," she breathes out against your neck and it causes goosebumps on your skin. "You're more than that and you know it," she says it so quietly as sleep washes over her.
Her answer leaves your eyes wide and mouth agape. You worry that the rate of your heartbeat is going to wake the now sleeping girl in your arms.
This girl is killing you and you feel like she knows it.
//
You're pretty sure you're going to die on this beach.
It starts with Camila trying to get out of the hammock, which you take personal offence to because you were so comfortable in her arms, even if you did lose feeling in them. Camila is particularly eager in getting up, but not particularly graceful. So she swings you two a little back and forth until her foot can reach the ground for her to stand.
Except when she stands, the hammock swings back a little too far, flipping you over and dropping you on your face.
"Oh my god, Lo! Are you okay?"
"Mhm," your answer is muffled by the sand and you consider just digging a hole right there to fall into.
"I'm so sorry, are you sure you're okay?"
Pushing yourself up, you nod weakly and avoid looking at her as your cheeks flushing a bright red. "I'm good. Promise."
Camila helps you up and dusts you off, taking time to brush the hair and sand away from your face. It doesn't help the blush taking over your features.
"Already falling for me, huh?" She jokes and you're torn between rolling your eyes and blushing like mad.
Your body settles for both.
"I guess it's about time I'm the one who gets injured while we're out," you surmise.
"You're always so dramatic, Lo. Good thing you're cute."
"That's what I say about all your bad jokes."
"As if you don't laugh at all of my bad jokes," she throws back at you. "Let's go swimming?" she asks with a hopeful lilt.
Unable to say no to the younger girl, you nod without hesitation and the smiles she gives would have you following her to a beach fouty hours away if that's what she wanted.
Unfortunately, you don't think you'll live long enough to do that with Camila turning around and without hesitation, lifting her shirt over her head. Your mouth falls open yet again, before completely hitting the ground as her shorts follow and she's left in the skimpiest bikini you've ever seen.
When she turns back around to face you, your mouth snaps shut and your eyes dart back up to her face.
"Uh..."
"Did you not bring a swimsuit for yourself?"
"No I, uh, I have."
You totally graduated high school.
"You have?"
"Uh huh," you fumble through your response as your mind short circuits.
"Did you want to change into it or just swim in your clothes?" Camila quizzes you with a playful look and you hate how confident she is while you're ready to trip over yourself.
"Y-yeah. I'll do that." You turn around and mindlessly take off your own clothes, leaving you in an equally not-modest orange bikini. When you face Camila again, her own eyes snap back up to your face with her teeth sinking into her bottom lip.
There's hunger in her gaze and a rush goes through you to know you have the same effect on this girl who is so intent on driving you crazy.
"Ready?" You breathe out, resisting every urge to touch the exposed skin. And there was a lot of exposed skin.
What there's not a lot of is your self control because you fail horribly at not staring at Camila. You feel safer when you're both in the water, the sight of her lost in the ocean. But then she'll go back and forth from being on shore to in the water and you can't stop your eyes from raking all over her. Her body is taut and her skin looks so soft, shining as water cascades off of her. And at the risk of sounding like a fuckboy, her ass is-
"My eyes are up here, Lauren."
Your head whips up to her face with the look of deer caught in headlights.
"I wasn't-"
"Staring?" Camila finishes for you, now completely out of the water and standing where the tide stops. "I mean I sure hope you were."
"Wait what?" You couldn't have possibly heard that correctly, but Camila is looking at you like you should know better.
"You think I dressed like this for you to not stare?"
Your mouth opens and closes like a fish in the nearby ocean, disbelief etched all over your features. "Really?"
Camila gives an exasperated smile, the slightest shake of her head at your response. "Remember when I said you're great but kind of an idiot?"
"Yeah, I was a little offended."
"The truth hurts, I guess," she shrugs with the sly smirk never leaving. "But if you think that I haven't been purposely trying to get your attention then you're a little more of an idiot than I thought."
"I mean it took me this long to ask you out, didn't it?"
"That's true. You haven't even tried to kiss me again since New Year's," she pouts and you're scrambling for words.
"I didn't know- like there wasn't really a good time to- I mean I want to!"
"Lo. You can breathe, I'm just giving you a hard time."
You swallow back some nerves and nod, as if you're not currently imagining what it's like to kiss Camila right then and there. "Right."
She locks eyes with you for a couple beats before speaking again. "I'm getting a little cold. Can we go back to our spot for a bit?"
"Y-Yeah, of course."
You finally catch up to Camila, she's pulling out the towels from your bag and handing you one. After wrapping herself up, she eases down onto the blanket, patting the spot next to her for you to join. When you seat yourself next to her, she doesn't hesitate to lean herself against you with her head resting on your shoulder. Reflexively, your arm wraps around her to pull her closer.
She releases a contented sigh, her wet hair pressing along your cheek while her damp skin feels surprisingly hot against your own.
"Thank you for today," she says quietly into the crook of your neck.
You blink, a little caught off guard. "You're welcome." You're not sure what else to say.
A few more moments pass. "Can we do it again?"
"Come to the beach?"
"No, go out on a date," she clarifies. "Before you leave." The last part is so quiet, you could've imagined it. With less than a week left in Miami, you two are pressed for time together and it's a fact you've been doing well to forget. At least until you can't anymore.
"I'd really like that," you admit and you can feel her smile into your shoulder. But then she's lifting her head to look up at you and you turn to meet her stare.
"You gonna kiss me before you leave too?" Camila whispers, back to being coy and cocky all at the same time leaving you to wonder how you can be so at ease with a person while they simultaneously drive you insane.
"I could kiss you now, if you'd like," you challenged with a confidence that surprises you.
"I would like," the brown eyed girl is quick to return and all the confidence you had for two seconds is gone, your body tensing. Deep brown eyes flicker to your lips and instinctively your wet them with your tongue.
"Lauren."
"Yeah?"
"Anytime would be a good time to kiss me." The encouragement is gentle and patient but with just the tiniest hint of pleading.
You give the slightest of nods,your breath becoming shallow. "Okay."
It feels like it takes forever for you to muster up the nerve to close the gap between you two. Camila's eyes flutter closed when she realizes, her head tilting up towards you.
Your own eyes fall shut when your lips meet, tentative yet completely charged. Leaning into the kiss seems to be enough invitation for Camila who presses forward, her own lips urgent while still so soft.
Fingers tangle themselves your hair, deepening the kiss and it takes a moment but you realize the little moan you heard came from you. Your mouth melds with hers as your hand cups her face, your mind and all your senses becoming overwhelmed with everything that is Camila.
She still tastes like the ocean and you'd be okay to drown in her, hyper aware of how her body moves against you. Her lips never leaving yours as she throws one leg over yours, effectively straddling you.
The squeak of surprise you make gets lost in her kiss while her free hand guides your own up her thigh and letting it rest on her waist. Her arm snakes around your shoulders and she's so close, all you feel is her warmth and her skin and her lips.
Squeezing her waist elicits the most pleasant response of her mouth parting in a gasp, her body jolting in response. With a confidence that comes and goes, you slowly peek your tongue between her lips. Tentatively at first, until her tongue meets yours and there's a quiet moan from both of you.
Camila's eagerness is emboldening. You allow your hands to finally explore the exposed skin you'd been ogling earlier, but you keep a pace that's slow enough for her to stop you if she wanted. When her fingers in your hair tighten the more your hands roam her body, you take it as a good sign.
It's not until your hands find purchase on her ass with the smallest of squeezes that her hips buck and you instantly draw away from the kiss
"Wait wait wait, hold on," you rush out. "We should slow down, right?"
Your breathing is labored and Camila's eyes are still closed, chest heaving. She purses her lips together and nods imperceptibly.
"Yeah probably," she sighs heavily. Her forehead touches yours and you gently nudge her nose with yours.
"Trust me, Camz. I don't want to stop. But we probably shouldn't keep going."
"No, you're right. We should stop," she concedes. "It's just- up until today I've had to keep myself in check so much around you. It was nice to finally let go."
Her confession spreads a warmth throughout your body and you can't help the smile taking over your face.
"You like me or something?" You tease.
"No this is how I hang out with all of my friends," she jeers and your smile quickly fades.
"That's rude," you pout.
"Baby, I'm obviously kidding."
The reassurance along with the pet name has you back to grinning like the idiot you are. You lean back just enough to properly look at Camila.
"I like when you call me that."
"I know. You also seem to really like your hands on my ass," she notes with a smirk while craning her neck to glance at your hands that are still resting on her backside.
"Did you want me to stop?" You ask with a small amount of playfulness.
"No but it's not really conducive to the whole 'we should stop' thing."
"Well maybe we don't have to necessarily stop, but could just...not go past butt-holding?"
"Do I get to hold your butt too then?" Camila's face is completely serious and you can't help but find the little crease between her eyebrows to be incredibly adorable.
"Sure but right now it's my turn," you reason. This gets you an eye roll and a giggle.
"Fine, but no rough groping or taking it slow is just out the window for me," Camila finishes before her lips find yours again, this time the pace much slower.
The kiss is lazy and relaxed, no urgency to it like before. But Camila manages for it to be deep, to press herself completely into you with every motion. Her fingers find their way into your hair again and you love how much contact this girl craves, how wanted it makes you feel.
You pretend you're not going to have trouble saying goodbye to this when the time comes for you to leave.
//
@laurenjauregui: wow guys i found a model on the beach
...@camilacabello97: not shown is the kid with an ice cream that i was ready to fight him for
//
@camilacabello97: wow guys i'm gay
... @laurenjauregui: i post a bomb ass picture of you and ure gonna do me dirty like this???? fake fan
//
hey it's before next year so i consider this a win! thanks for all your patience if you're still sticking with this fic lmao
love you babes